“You wanted to let him go, didn’t you? The newly turned vampire.”
“Yeah. He could have vanished. I think he wanted me to end his existence as a vampire. Maybe he hated what he had become, and he couldn’t reconcile himself with what he was being forced to do. Why not leave and fight the hunters further? I mean, he was fighting us, but he gave up when he didn’t need to at the point of my blade.”
“You all had us worried.” Zachary rubbed her back.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I’m sure your brother was thinking you were getting soft on vampires because some of your friends and relatives are vampires now.”
“Not on your life.”
Zachary chuckled.
Pasha couldn’t stop thinking about everything though—about how her family and others would take over and reestablish their family in the city. How they would feel about living here now that they’d lost so many of their loved ones. How the dynamics between family members had changed with her brother and sister being turned and her brother taking charge of the family. How his mate would have a baby that was a combination of hunter and vampire.
“I can’t believe Rachael can have a baby with a vampire.” Pasha didn’t know why she mentioned it to Zachary. He would have the same issue if he mated a huntress. She guessed she said something to him about it because she couldn’t stop thinking about it and she couldn’t ask Rachael. Her sister-in-law was probably worried enough over it already. Pasha hadn’t wanted to ask Danai either because she may be concerned about the same thing if she mated a hunter like Michael. None of them knew what would really happen. “I didn’t even think vampires could have offspring.”
“I suspect it’s a rare occurrence. It would be really bad for us if the rogues could turn humans and have their own offspring.”
“True.”
“I know of only one case that Crystal told us about. The vampire had been born a vampire of vampire parents. They were all ancients. He was ostracized by the rest of his kind for being different.”
“Oh. Like hunters turned into vampires. But you haven’t heard of any hunter-vampire matings that have produced children yet?”
“Not that I know of.”
“You know, we’re going to want to reclaim our homes once the vampire threat is finished. I didn’t know if Adonis might have told you already. I mean, he hasn’t said anything about it to me, but I know him. We’re not just seeking revenge and to settle the score and then we’ll return to Dallas.”
“I thought as much. I don’t blame you and your family for wanting to return and reclaim your homes. I would have felt the same if I’d been you.” Zachary kissed her on the top of her head.
“In your hunter clan, how many know you’re a vampire now?” Since two of her family members had been turned and the others in her family were just glad they had survived and were helping them to fight back, she thought Zachary could find a home with them there.
“Just my uncles, dad, Michael, Rachael, and your family.”
“So the others in your clan might not accept what you’ve become.” She was thinking about the hunter who had nearly killed Adonis, trying to tell everyone he was a bloodsucking vampire now. Some of his outrage was because Adonis wanted Rachael for his mate. But some of it was because he just hated vampires and to him, Adonis was a rogue for lying to them just as much as Piaras had been. But Adonis and Rachael had eliminated Piaras! The hunter hadn’t done anything to make that happen and protect Rachael from the threat. With the hunter having been banished from the clan, there had to be some hard feelings among some of the hunters who had been friends of his. How would that affect Zachary if they knew he was turned also?
Zachary sighed. “I’d say there’s a good chance some might not accept me for what I’ve become. We could see a real rift between factions. You’ve seen the good we can do. But for some, that might not be enough.”
“They think you’ll suddenly side with rogues and allow them into hunters’ homes,” she guessed.
“Right. They don’t understand that the hunter in us is alive and well, just as protective of the hunter families as always.”
“Then maybe you would want to stay here with us. Danai and Adonis understand you.”
Zachary smiled.
“What?” She assumed his smile was because she didn’t include herself in that, but they were just like him so she meant they would truly understand what he was going through. She was just learning what to expect. Just like he was.
“You’re right. And if Michael and Danai mate, he’ll stay here also. My father would understand if he feared there’d be revolt within the clan. He and my uncles wouldn’t want that. We could be a real help to our clan, but I just don’t see it working out that way.”
“Do you wish things could have been different? That you were never turned?”
“I wouldn’t have done anything differently to rescue you, even if I’d had a crystal ball and knew how it would have ended. At first, yeah, I was overwhelmed by the prospect of having been turned and losing you all at the same time. Not that you were committed to me at the time, but I sure hoped a courtship would result. When I was lying in bed in pain, I was miserable, knowing what I’d become. Especially when I saw you and knew how much you’d hate me for it after all you’d been through. And then Anthony was standing beside you, trying to get you to court him. I knew that was the best thing for you, but I couldn’t help how growly I felt.”
“He didn’t come to my rescue and risk his life for me like you did. My brother told me how you were adamant about coming to save me.”
“And your family.”
She smiled and kissed his chest. “As an aside. But your mission was to save me.”
“Adonis told me you were a wild cat.” He sighed. “I’m glad you came out of it unscathed.”
“Not totally unscathed. What if I had been the one who’d been turned? Do you think you would still have wanted to court me?”
“Hell, yeah. Just like Michael wants to with Danai.”
“They’re not really together,” Pasha reminded Zachary.
“Danai’s a good fighter. I’m sure that’s why she wanted to protect the kids. Michael…he’s really not into kids all that much. Not yet, anyway. And he knows getting rid of the threat will help protect the kids anyway.”
Pasha snapped her fingers. “She’s testing Michael.”
“What?”
“Sure. She was seeing how he’d react to protecting the kids.”
“Well, he failed the test, I guess.”
“It might not be that at all.” She settled against Zachary again. “I knew Danai well before the change, but now, she’s a different person. She used to boss me around all the time, older sister, you know, but now she’s…well, withdrawn. I know she’s angry with me because I caused all this mess to begin with.” Pasha fought crying over it. She’d fought it ever since her whole family had been swept up into this mess with her. Then a tear fell, and she quickly wiped it off Zachary’s chest.
He took a deep breath and ran his hand soothingly over her arm. “We all make mistakes, Pasha. Mine would be giving you up to another hunter like Anthony. Or anyone else, for that matter.”